Campaign Director Simon Turner’s round up of the previous week’s stories that business owners and fleet risk managers should be reading.

Arval urges fleets to improve safety to combat rising insurance premiums

12/05/2017 Fleet News
Fleets have been urged by Arval to mitigate insurance premium increases by working to improve their driver safety record. Insurance costs have increased by up to an estimated 8% this year.

Motorists ‘still using’ mobile phones despite higher fines

11/05/2017 Fleet News
Worrying news for employers is that, despite the Government’s harsher penalties introduced in March, more than half of motorists are still making calls and texts, as well as checking social media, while they are behind the wheel. It is illegal to touch a mobile phone, even with a hands free set, while driving and has been since 2003. Employers need to clearly define and communicate an effective policy on mobile phone use while driving to all their staff.

Brake offers crisis response training for executive management, HR professionals and fleet managers

11/05/2017 Fleet News
Road safety charity Brake is inviting executive management, HR professionals and fleet management personnel to attend a one-day crisis response training course delivered in partnership with international law firm Kennedys Knowing how to react and to project manage the many issues that arise when the worst happens is essential planning for organisations.

Eight-year ban for director after unroadworthy vehicle collision

10/05/2017 Commercial Fleet
The director of an “extraordinarily negligent” company that knowingly operated unroadworthy vehicles, one of which caused a collision and life changing injuries for a pedestrian, has been banned from operating for eight years.

New edition of FTA Van Drivers’ Handbook now available

09/05/2017 Freight Transport Association
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has published a new, fully-updated edition of its Van Drivers’ Handbook to provide van drivers with a quick and easy reference guide to help them stay legally compliant.

5-Star Safety from Volvo

08/05/2017 Volvo VQ
The new Volvo S90 and V90 have become the first cars to score a full six points in EuroNCAP’s Autonomous Emergency Braking for Pedestrians test with both cars achieving a 5-star rating overall